When he’s done, he shelters me with his body, wrapping his arms around me to keep me warm.
His face is so close to mine, it would only take the slightest turn to catch a glimpse of him. It’s tempting, but something still holds me back. Right now, we’re existing in a perfect bubble, and I don’t want it to burst.
Everything will change if I find out who he is. It could ruin what we have, and something in my gut tells me it might.
So for now, I settle against him, enjoying the quiet as we stare out over the water. There’s something so peaceful about it, and I wonder whether Eros knows it calms me, or it’s just a coincidence. Either way, I try not to think about it too much.
“Question for a question?” I ask.
“You first.” His words brush against my ear.
“Biggest regret?”
His grip on me tightens subtly, and he doesn’t answer right away, which only makes me more curious. Usually, he has a sarcastic response ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. But this time, he doesn’t.
“Hurting someone to prove I don’t care.”
I let that sink in, and despite my resolve to remain casual, I can’t help feeling a sliver of jealousy. It makes me think this someone could be connected to the mystery behind his username. If it is, it’s probably better that I don’t know.
“You?” he asks.
“Well.” I stare down at my fingers, twisting them together. “I already told you.”
“Is this about your megalodon?”
I shrug noncommittally.
“I bet if he were here right now, he’d tell you to let it go,” he says solemnly. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Maybe.” I try to push those thoughts from my mind. “But I don’t want to talk about that right now. It’s your turn to think of a question.”
He releases a rough breath, and it sends goosebumps down my neck. “You do another one.”
“Okay.” I think it over for a second. “What’s a real-life horror scenario for you?”
“You ignoring my texts.”
I laugh, and he nips at my ear. “You always think I’m joking. You have something better, little shark? Tell me what horrifies you.”
“Phone calls. Small talk. Ordering food. Unexpected hugs. Forced social interactions. Hmm…let’s see what else? Oh, saying something wildly embarrassing by accident in front of a large group of people, and now you have to replay it in your mind until the end of eternity.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“It is,” I admit, a hint of vulnerability in my voice. “I guess for a lot of people, those are just normal things they don’t even think about. But for me, navigating those situations takes a lot of mental energy. How do I act natural? How much eye contact is enough? Do I nod, or stare blankly when someone speaks? Was that a joke? Maybe I shouldn’t have laughed. Why am I standing weird?”
He's quiet for a long moment, and I’m worried I may have overshared.
“Was that too much?”
“You’re never going to be too much, Gabi,” he says softly. “Not for me.”
An unexpected swell of emotion rises in my chest, and I can only nod in response. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that.
Sensing my vulnerability, he doesn’t ask me to say anything else. Instead, he grounds me with his touch, anchoring me to his body as his lips graze my neck.
A shiver coasts down my spine, and I close my eyes, tilting my head back to give him access. He kisses a path down to my collarbone, sending a surge of heat through my veins.
A spark of urgency ignites between us as he collars my throat, turning me toward him and capturing my mouth with his.
